Machine for forming closure units for containers



Nov. l, 1932. H. A. FINK n885,703

MACHINE FOR FORMING CLOSURE UNITS FOR CONTAINERS l Filed June 9, 1930 13 Sheets-Sheet -l WJNH!! MACHINE FOR FORMING CLOSURE UNITS FOR CONTANERS Filed "June 9. 1950 13 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 1', 1932. H* A, ...-.NK 1,885,703

MACHINE FOR FORMINGCLOSURE UNITS FOR CONTAINERS Filed June 9, 1930 13 Sheets-Sheet 3 H. FINK Nov. l, 1932.

cLosURE UNITS Fon CONTAINERS Filed June 9. 1930 FORMING 15 sheets-sheet 4 NOV. l, 1932.. |1A 'F|NK LSSSS' v MACHINE FOR FOHMING CLOSURE UNITS FOR CONTAI1\!ERSl Filed June 9.1950 13 sheets-sheet 5 lll Nov. l, 1932. Y H, A, F|NK 1,885,703

' MACHINE FORMING CLOSURE UNITS FOR CONTAINERS I Filed June 9. 1950 13 Sheets-Sheet 6 Nov. l, 1932. H. A. FINK MACHINE FoR-FoRMrNG oLosuRE UNITS Foa CONTAINERS Filed June 9. 1950 lrsheets-Sheet 7 Nov. l, 1932. H, A. FINK 1,885,703

MACHINE FOR FORMING CLOSURE UNITS FOR CONTAINERS Filed June 9. 1950 13 Sheets-Sheet 8 fsw f l! I 'il Nov. 1, 1932; H A PINK 1,885,703

MACHINE FOR FORMING CLOSURE UNITS FOR CONTAINERS Filed June 9. 195o lssheets-sheet 9 H. A. FINK Nov. 1, 1932.

MACHINE Fon FORMING cLosuRE UNITS FOR CONTAINERS Nov. l, 1932. l H. A. FINK l 1,885,703

MACHINE FOR FORMING CLOSURE UNITS FOR COTAINER Filed June 9. 1930 13 Sheets-Sheet 11 N0v.1,1932. l H, A, NK 1,885,703

MACHINE FOR FORMING CLOSURE UNITS FOR CONTAINERS Filed June 9. 1950 13 Sheets-Sheet 12 @l5 e L9 LZ .50 A@ 1 J NOV. l, 1932. H, A,F|NK I,885,703

MACHINE FOR FORMING CLOSURE UNITS FOR CONTAINERS Filed June 9. 1930 13 Sheets-Sheet 13 Illlllllllllll HHIHHIIAIW Patented Nov. V 1, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT ori-'Ice HENRY A. FINK`, F NEW YORK, N. Y.. ASSIGNOR TO CONTINENTAL CAN COMPANY,

INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK i MACHINE FOR FORMING CLOSURE UNITS FOR CONTAINERS Application led June 9, 1930. Serial No. 459,963.

,The invention relates to new and useful improvements in a machine for forming closure units for metal containers.

An object of the invention is to provide a machine wherein a metal sealing ring may be crimped or bent so as to be firmly attached plastic sealing gasket.

These and other objects will in part be obvious and will in part be hereinafter more fully disclosed.

In the drawings which show by way of illustration one embodiment of the invention Figure 1 is a side view of a machine ern-l bodying the improvements;

Fig. 2 is a vertical'sectional View through the machine;

Fig. 3`is a sectional view on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View on the line 4 4: of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view in vertical section through one of the crimping or bending units for attaching the sealing ring to the container end;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is asectional view on the line 7--7 of Fig. 6; i

Fig. 8 is a plan Av-iew of a portion of the machine showing one of the crimping or bending units;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged View partly in vertical section showing one of the crimping or bending units with a sealing ring and. end clamped for rotation;

Fig. 10 is a view of one of the crimping or bending units showing the parts as joined and being stripped from the rotating devices therefor;

Fig. l1 is a view partly in. plan and partly in section of the parts as shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a View in horizontal section through the machine showing one of the crimping or bending units at the time when the rotating parts are separated;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view on the line 13-13 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 13 but viewed from the4 opposite direction;

Fig. 15 is an enlarged sectional view through one of the rotating units with the parts clamped for rotation; I

Fig. 16 is a similar View showing the rotating parts separated and the sealing ring and end in position ready forlclamping;

Fig. 17 is a plan view of one of the crimping rolls and the means for. supporting the same;

Fig. 18 is a view showing the sealing ring and can end in ,edge View before .they are assembled;

Fig. 19 is a similar View showing the parts assembled and the flange in the ring crimped for securing it to the can end;

l Fig. 20 is a side view of the parts shown in Fig. 19;

Fig. 21 is an enlarged view in section through a portion of the end, and

Fig. 22 is a sectional view through the end and sealing ring after they are joined and inverted preparatory to the placing of the sealing ring therein.

1t is a common expedient to'provide a container with-a sealing' ring which is used for securing the closingA end to the container body, which sealing ring may be severed when it is desired to break the seal of the container. rlhe'present invention has to do with a machine for attaching a sealing ring-to a closing end for forming a unit closure therefrom. The closing end is provided with a horizontal flange overlying the end wall of the container and with a depending vertical ange adapted to frictionally engage the inner wall of the container. rl`he sealing ring is provided with a horizontal portion adapted to overlie the upper face of the end and with a depending vertical flange which is substantially parallel withl the flange on the end and which is adapted to be bent underneath a ledge or bead formed integral with the wall of the container for holding the end in sealing contact with the container. The present machine is designed for crimping this vertical iange in the sealing ring so as to bend said fiange underneath the outer end of the horizontal flange on the container end for thus forming al tight joint between the container end and the sealing ring. This produces a unit closure structure and one wherein a pocket or recess is formed for a scaling l material. The pocket is tight so that the seal- .ing material may be supplied thereto in liquid form and after the volatile solvents ofthe material have escaped a plastic sealing ring is formed, properly placed relative to the closure unit and becoming a part of the closure Iunit so that it may be handled and applied bodily travel about a horizontal axis. Each closure unit includes a rotating chuck and a rotatable support which is yieldingly pressed into contact with the sealing ring and a container end for chucking and rotating the same. Associated with each chuck is a crimping roll which travels with the crimping unit and it is moved into engagement with the vertical flange of the sealing'ringr for crimping or bending the same so as to orm a tight jolnt between the sealing ring and the container end. Associated with each crimping unit is a traveling support which lines up the sealing ring and the container end for chucking, and also associated with each crimping unit is a stripp'er which comes into action for stripping the connected sealingring and end from the rotating su port associated with the chuck when the rotating parts have been sepa- 'rated for a discharge of the connected closure end.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the machine embodying the invention consists of a supporting bed 1 on which is mounted standards 2, 2. Carried by the standards 2, 2 is a cylindrical supporting member 3 which may be referred to as a stationary shaft. Mounted on this stationary shaft 3 is a rotating sleeve 4. The rotatingsleeve 4 carries the crimping units which receive and join the siling ring to the container end. Mounted at the right end of this sleeve 4 is a turret 5, and mounted at the left end of this sleeve 4 is a turret 6. The turret 6 is keyed to the sleeve and is clamped between the collars 7 and 8 which are threaded andwhich engage a thread 9 on the sleeve 4. ThisV provides a means whereby the turret 6 may be shifted endwise of the'sleeve and set in a different position thereon relative to the turret 5.

The turret 5 is provided with a gear 10. This gear 10 meshes with a pinion 11 keyed to the main actuating shaft 12. This shaft 12 is mounted in a suitable bearing 13 in the end standard 2. Thus it is that the sleeve and the turrets carried thereby are rotated and rotated continuously during the operation of the machine.

Mounted in the turret 5 are four rotating chucks, each of which is indicated at 14 in the drawings. This chuck has a threaded connection 15 with a chuck spindle 16 in the form of a sleeve, which is mounted for rotation in a bushing 17 carried by the turret 5.

The chuck spindle 16 extends beyond the turret and is provided with a pinion 18. The pinions 18 associated with the several chucks mesh with a gear Wheel 19 formed as a part of a sleeve 20d which is mounted for rotation on the stationary shaft 3. Keyed to this sleeve 20 is a gear 21 which meshes with a ear 22 keyed to the hub of the pinion l11 w ich in turn is keyed to the main actuating shaft 12. Thus it is that the chuck spindles are rotated and they may be rotated at a rapid speed, While the sleeve 4 carrying the crimping units is rotated at a relatively slow speed. Located on the spindle 16 is a thrust bearing 23. This thrust bearing is disposed between the side of the turret 5 and the collar nuts 24, 24 which have a threaded connection with the spindle 16. Thus it is that the chuck is mounted for free rotation in the turret 5 and is held from endwise movement therein. There are threaded collar nuts 25 at the other side of the main supporting bearing in the turret for the chuck spindle. The chuck 14 has its front face 26 shaped so as to engage the outer face of the assembled sealing ring and container end and Will make engagement with these parts in the region of the periphery of the container end so that the sealing ring and container end can be firmly clamped together. Associated with each chuck 14 is a rotatable support 27. This rotatable sup ort 27 is mounted on a rotatable head 28. prings 29, 29 disposed between the rotatable support 27 and the rotatable head 28l tends to force the support laterall away from the head 28. A stop ring 30 is t readed on the rotatable head 28 and limits the movement of the support 27 away from the head 28. The rotatable head 28 has a threaded engagement with a supporting spindle 31. This supporting spindle 31 is mounted in a bushing 32 carried by a slide bar 33. The left hand end of the rotatable spindle 31 is provided with a head 34, see Fig. 11, which holds the spindle from endwise movement in the bushing. The slide bar 33` is rectangular in cross section, and is mounted to slide freely in a guideway 35 formed in a supporting portion of the turret 6. An end thrust bearing 36 is disposed be- -tween the rotatable head 28 and the end of the slide bar 33, see Figs. 15 and 16. lMeans is provided for moving the slide bar 33 back and forth. This means consists of a roller 37 carried by a stud 38 clamped to the slide bar 33. This 'roller 37 runs in a cam groove 39 in a stationary cam supporting member 40. This member 401s connected to rods 41,A

41 carried by the standard 2. .The rods are attached to plates 42 which are bolted to the member 40. This member is mounted on the turret 6 but the turret 6 is free to turn therein. The .cam groove 39 is shaped so as to move the support 27 into contact wlth the con-4 tainer end and cause said container end to be clamped firmly -against the sealing. ringy and the sealing ring and end both clamped against the vchuck 26.

Mounted on the sleeve 4 is a member for receiving the container ends and the sealing rings and for supporting the same preparatory to the clamping of the end and ring between the rotating chuck and the rotatable support just described. This receiving member consists of a central sleeve 43 having radially projecting arms 44. Each arm is provided with a pair of openings 45 and a stud 46 extends through one of these openings, which stud extends into the turret 5. This joins the central sleeve 43 to the turret so that it rotates with the turret. Carried at the outer end of these radially projecting arms 44 are supporting segments 47, which extend from one crimping unit to the next adjacent crimping unit. At the crimping unit stations .there is Va supporting member 48 which is substantially concentric with the axis of rotation of the chuck and which is slightly less than 180 degrees in extent. The supporting segments 47 are a greater distance from the center of the axis of rotation of the machine at the end 49 than at the end 50 so that a fed from suitable chutes into engagement 'A withl this supporting segment. The turrets rotate in the direction of the arrows in Figs. 13 and 14. One of these views is from one side and the other from the other side, and therefore as viewed in these two figures the arrows indicate rotation in opposite directions which of course is not true. The turrets rotate in one direction only and the supporting segments are rotated so that the rings and ends engage the high point of the supporting segments 47 and will be gradually lowered from their respectivechutes until the low point 50 is reached at which time the end and sealing ring will drop onto the supporting member 48 and thus be positioned between the rotating chuck and the rotatable support. The high point 49 ofy the segmentserves as a`stop and aids in centering the ring and end for chucking. In Figs. 13 and 14 the chute for supplying the sealing rings is indicated at 53. In Fig. 13 the end is in contact with thev tween the rotating chuck and rotatable support preparatory to chucking, and also as supporting the next following ring and end in the chutes therefor. The support 48 is provided with a seat 48 for the sealing ring and a seat 48h for the container end. The seat 481 is slightly higher than the seat 48, and this insures that the end will be moved into the ring without being caught by the edge of the flange of the ring. v j

After the sealing ring and container end have been placed between the rotating chuck and the rotatable support then it is that the traveling crimping unit reaches a point where the roller 37 passing along the cam groove 39 will be moved to the right, and this will cause the rotatable support to move into the container end, seat the container ,end in the sealing ring, and clamp the sealing ring and end against the rotating chuck. In Fig. 5 of the ldrawings the roller 37 has moved part way along the cam groove moving the slide bar 33jto the right and the rotating chuck has approached and is about to engage the end for securing the same in the sealing ring. In Fig. 16 of the drawings the parts are shown on a larger scale as positioned in Fig. 5. It

will readily be seen that the rotatable support engaging the container end will move it laterally into the sealing ring and will clamp the parts against the rotating chuck as shown in Fig. 15. After the parts have been thus assembled and while they are rotating they are subjected in the bodily travel of the crimping units to the action of a crimping roll. The crimping roll is indicated at 55 in thedrawings. The crimping roll is provided with spaced circular projecting portions 56 and 57 forming therebetween an annular recess 58. This annular recess 58 engages a projecting rib 59 on the rotating chuck 14. This crimping roll is provided with an active crimping port-ion 60, see Fi 17. \The crimping roll is mounted on a sha 61 carried'by a supporting yoke -"62. This supporting yoke 62 is pivotally supported on the stud 46 which, as described above, .is carried by the turret 5. Also mounted on this stud 46 is a bracket 63. This bracket 63 carries an adjustable stud 64. A

metal is crimped about the 4horizontal flange solvents thereof have escaped so as to pro- -between t the bracket 63 is a. roller 67 which is adapted to engage a stationary cam 68 carried by the sleeve 4. This stationary cam 68 is formed as a part of a sleeve 69 which while supported on the sleeve 4Jremains stationary while the sleeve 4 rotates. A bracket arm 70 is secured to this sleeve 69 by bolts 71, 71. This bracket arm 70 extends radially ofthe rotatable support, as shown in Fig. 12, and is attached to a rod 72 carried by the standards 2 and 3 of the machine. The sleeve 43 carrying the vsupporting segments 47 and the supports 48 is mounted on this sleeve 69 carrying the cam 68, but freely mounted thereon so that said sleeve 43 can rotate. The radial members attached to the sleeve 43 and carrying the supporting segments 47 are attached to the turret and rotate therewith. This connection between the sleeve 43 and the sleeve 69 will prevent endwise movement of the sleeve 69 on the sleeve 4. 'Ihe cam 68 is so shaped that the roller 67 will be moved outwardly at the proper time during the rotation of the turrets so as to bring the crimping roll 55 into engagement withthe rotating vertical flange of the sealing ring and this will crimp or bend the metal of the sealing ring as indicated at 51a in Figs. 19 and 22. Thus it is that the 52 of the container end and a tight joint form-ed between the sealing ring and the container end so that they may be inverted as shown inFig. 22 with the channel or recess between the vertical wall 51" of the sealing ring and the vertical wall 52b of the container end facing upward. The sealing material is placed in this recess or pocket in liquid form, and will be retained therein until the volatile duce a plastic sealing gasket adhering to the walls of the sealing ring and container end. This produces a closure unit wherein the sealing ring and container end are physically joined so that they may be handled and applied as a unit to the container. The sealing rin is provided with breaking tabs 51, 51c

an is scored across so that the sealing ring may be readily broken or ruptured when it is desired to open the container.

It is understood that there is a crimping roll associated with each rotating chuck and the crimping roll together with the rotating chuck and rotatable support form the crimping units which join the sealing ring to the container end. As the crimping units pass the chutes at the upper side of the machine the sealin ring and container end are placed ge chuck and the rotatable support. These parts are then'chucked and as themachine continues itsrotation the crimping roll crimps or bends the metal so as to join the parts after which the rotatable support is moved away from the chuck torelease 'the joined end and ring. In order to insure that the container end'will be released from the rotatable support a stripping padhas been provided. This stripping pad is indicated at 3, Figs. 11 and 15. The stripping pad is carried by a rod 74 which extends centrally through the spindle 31 carrying the rotatable head 28. This rod 74 is rigidly attached to a cross head 75 capable of sliding back and iorth in a recess 76 in the slide bar 33. This cross head extends beyond the sides of the slide bar' 33 and is connected by bars 77, 77, see Fig. 11, with a cani-shaped block 78. This cam-shaped block 78 is rigidly attachedto these bars and has an inwardly inclined face 7 L n and a rounded nose 781. Alongside of the stationary member 37 is a stationary cam 79. This cam 79 is located at the lower side of the machine. When the 'crimping unit reaches the lower side Vot the machine the block 78 comes into contact with this stationary cam 79 and this will force the rib 74 to the right and will cause the stripping pad to engage and force the container end off from the rotatable support. Mounted in the slide bar' 33 is a pin 80. This Din extends into a recess 81 in the block 78. A spring 82 surrounds this nin and lies between the end of the sli(1n bar 33 and this block 78. Thus it is that the rod 74 by this spring is continuously vressed toward the left as-viewed in Fig. and when the block 78 is released from the cam 79 then the stripping pad will be returned to its house position in the rotatable support. As the closure unit is released from the crimping station it will drop onto a guide plate 83, see Fig. 4, and will be carried along by the turret and finally dischar ed into a chute 84 and pass out of the macine through this chute. In orderpto protect the rotating parts as far as possible a housing or cover plate 85 extends. about the gears operating the chucks and the turret. There is also a cover plate or housinv 86 which extends over a greater portion of the rotating turret 6 and covers the cam members and 79. There is still another vcover plate Stia-which extends throughout certain regions of the machine' for covering th movable parts. by a supporting bracket 86". This cam member 79 is carried by a bracket 7 9, see Fig. 2, which is attached to the bed 1 of the machine.

i From the above it will be a parent that a machine has been provided or receiving container ends and sealing rings, which machine automatically assembles and joins these parts by a crimpingof the sealing ring so as to make a very tight connection between the sealing ring and the container end. The container ends and rings pass into the, machine and to the traveling crimping stations at one point in their cycle of bodily travel, the chucking and the crimping take place during the travel of the crimping units, and at another place the joined sealingrring and Thisl cover plate is carriedcontainer end are stripped from the rotatable support and discharged from the machine.

It will thus be apparent that a machine has-l been provided or forming a connection between tlie sealing rings and container ends which may be operated continuously andat very high speed. v j

`It is obvioustthat minor changes in the details of construction and the larrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventionl as set forth in the appended claims.

It is also obvious that while this machine has been described as 4used for crimping a sealing ring onto a container end it may be also used for joining metal parts used for other purposes, the essential feature consisting'in the chucking and rotating of two parts which are to be joined andV in the crimping ofone of the parts so as to join it to the other during the bodily travel of the crimping units. 1

Having thus fully described my 'invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of a rotating sleeve, turrets carried thereby, a series of chuck spindles carried by one of said turrets, means for rotating said chuck spindles, a series of rreciprocating slide bars carried by the other turret, a rotating head carried by each bar, a yielding support attached to said rotating head, a crimping i'oll associated with each chuck, a support for the crimping roll, and a stationary cam cooperating with the support for the crimping roll for forcing said crimping roll into engagement with the rotating sealing ring. i

2. The combination of a rotating sleeve, turrets carried thereby, a plurality of cooperating chucks and rotatable supports for clamping and rotating a container end and a sealing ring carried by said turrets, acrimping roll associated with each ChuCk,aSuppOrtfing arm for said roll, a. stud on which said arm is pivoted, a bracket mounted on said stud and engaging said arm for moving said crimping roll, a spring for yieldingly holding l, said arm iii Contact with said bracket, a roll xcarried by said bracket, and a stationary cam with which said last named roll cooperates for causing said crimping roll to engage the `sealing ring during the rotation of the turrets.

3. The combination of a rotating sleeve, turrets carried thereby, a rotating chuck mounted on one of said turrets, a rotatable head mounted on the other turret, a support yieldingly carried by said head, a slide bar on which said rotatable head is mounted, a-

stationary cam for reciprocating said slide bar during the rotation of said turrets, a crimping roll associated with said chuck, a

stripping pad, a rod carrying said stripping pad extending through said slide bar, a cross ing with each turret for receiving the container ends and the sealing rings, said supl port having a segmental portion terminating in a supporting pocket at the crimping unit, the face of said segmental support being curved toward the center of rotation of 'the sleeve so that the container ends and sealing rings are gradually moved inwardly and into said pockets. i

5. The combination of a rotating sleeve, turrets carried thereby, a rotating chuck carried by one of said turrets, means for rotating the chuck, a rotatable head carried by the other turret, means for movingsaid ro. tatable head toward and from the chuck, a support carried by said rotatable head, springs for moving said rotatable support axially away from the rotatable head, means for limiting the axial movement of said. support relative to said rotatable head, and a crimping roll associated with said chuck.

6. The combination of1 a member mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis, turrets carried thereby, means carried by said turrets for receiving a container end having a depending flange odset inwardly from the edge of the container end, and a sealing ring having a depending flange adapted to engage over the container end, and for centering the end relative to the ring, means carried by said turrets adapted to enter within the flange of the end for assembling the end and the ring and for chucking and rotating the end and ring during the rotation of the turrets, and means for Acrimping the flange of the ring for attaching the saine to the container end while the turrets are rotating.

In testimony whereof, I aliix my signature.

HENRY A. FINK.

ico 

